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To celebrate the 30th
anniversary of Zigen, and to explore the theories and practices of
revitalization and sustainable development , Zigen 30th Anniversary
/2nd Forum to Promote Sustainable Development was held on
December 15th and 16th
in Beijing Normal University. More than 220 guests, who worked for
government agencies, academic institutes, media, and non-profit organizations
from all parts of China, attended the event. Viewings are over one million via
live streaming platforms including ChinaLink and Feng-Live. Many alumni of
Zigen projects, as well as some girls and women who received aid from Zigen,
also came to the venue to tell their stories.

Teng Teng, Director
of the Center for Sustainable
Development of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, reviewed his own journey
to know Zigen from suspicion to acceptance, and now in close affiliation with
Zigen. He witnessed the launching of Zigen projects in Lijiang and Qinglong; he
participated in poverty alleviation and coordinated educational programs (adult
education, occupational/technical training and basic education). With a view
from the current policy of approving the value of school and adult education,
Teng concluded that Zigen is in the right place at the right time, it sure will
go a long way.

Professor Zheng
Xinrong, Director of the National Center for Education and Multicultural
Studies at Beijing Normal University, has been working with Zigen to set up
rural development curriculum in recent years. She first knew Zigen while
studying abroad in Canada, for all these years, she is very much impressed by
Ms. Pat Kwei-Ping Yang’s decade-long persistent concerns and diligent efforts
on rural issues. On the future of rural education, Zheng pointed out that in
less than 20 years, rural education would be detached from communities. “We
very possibly are the last generation to witness the mode of community/school,
village/school combined together.” She hoped this forum would help people to
discover the wealth and history of rural areas, and that the villages could
once again become their spiritual homeland.

The keynote speech
was focused on “Rural Revitalization and Sustainable Development: Global
Visions and China’s Exploration”. The forum featured on four themes: 1) Economic
Vitality – The Driving Force for Sustainable Development; 2) The Major Pillar
to Revitalize; 3) Inheritance, Innovation and Promotion of Rural Culture – To Dig
Out the Inner Strength from Rural China; 4) Advocating and Promotion – Make the
Countryside a Lifelong Learning Site. Speakers shared their wonderful views,
Yang said, “heaven and mankind as one” is an important part of Chinese
philosophy. The idea of ‘respect the nature’ should exist in the Chinese minds.
However, when it comes to practical work, missteps happen. For example, ‘prosperity’
is easily regarded as economic gains, nothing else; the needs and participation
of women, elderly and youth are widely ignored; it is usually singing and
dancing to represent rural cultural activities, forms outweigh contents; people
rush to the cities for better paid jobs, it further enlarges the urban/rural
gap, making it more difficult to cultivate and to attract talents. With the
standard and consensus for sustainable development, it should be closely
integrated with the current rural revitalization and rural construction.”

Other than the reep-pikeand Naxiyue performances from Guizhou
and Yunnan, Zigen staff members also debuted the show 30 Years of Wind and Rain along the Zigen Journey, created by Hu
Zhihong, a longtime participant of the Leishan project. Xu Duo, lead singer of the New Workers Art
Troupe the Earth Ballad, led a sing-along Our
Dreams Will Come True, its lyrics, “Traveling through mists and hazards,
our dreams will come true! Difficult and lonely along our way…..as long as
our hearts are together” echoed perfectly with the closing remarks from Yao
Jun, legal representative and Secretary General of Zigen China, “It is a long
and difficult journey for a grass root organization like Zigen who dedicated
itself to people-oriented sustainability the last 30 years. Thanks to our
friends to accompany us all the time. We will persist walking on this road,
stay true to our original goal. Let’s walk hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder,
through the mists, through the hardship, our dreams will come true!”

Due to space limitation, please visit Zigen’s public WeChat
account and website for more details.

Translated by Tracy Kong, born and grew up Shandong Province. Now living in Shanghai. She works
for a start-up organizing immersive learning expeditions for European company
executives in China.